Press Review: St Louis: “we aren’t going to mess around – we’re just going to play,” a serious Robert Plant promised the capacity house who’d gathered in the 20,000 seat arena to witness the phoenix-like return of Led Zeppelin to the stage from what Plant euphemized as their “physical interlude” – the forced hiatus that resulted from the critical injuries he suffered in an auto accident during the summer of 1975.

It was obvious from his comment, made two songs into the programme, that Zeppelin weren’t interested in tea and sympathy, but rather in defending their supergroup status which, as they well knew, was sorely in need of it in St Louis after their sorry past performances in this city.

Indeed, while they had been, as usual, nearly an hour late in starting, the openers, The Song Remains the Same and a tough, angry version of Sick Again, had offered considerable proof that they meant to keep their lead singer’s word. And as if to further confirm it, there already a broken string hanging down from Jimmy Page’s tortured double-neck.

But it was not until they were successfully done with the metallic blues of their next song, Nobody’s Fault But Mine, that Plant himself (whose stint on harmonica had been Fault’s special treat) seemed fully satisfied they would live up to his commitment.

“It looks like it’s going to be a good one, he righty, if cautiously surmised, and they quickly moved ahead to In My Time of Dying – It’s challenging breaks, and Page’s bottleneck leads and Plant’s woeful wails all most impressively executed. But should there happen to have been any yet-remaining doubts in anyone’s mind as to Zeppelin’s fitness, the soul wrenching dealt by Since I’ve Been Loving You could not help but have dispelled them completely.

Plant’s purgative, bleeding cries – so reminiscent of Janis Joplin – and the taunting, almost brutal exchange between his voice and the instruments brought the concert to its first of several climaxes. That there had been a deep-down change in this group was now impossible not to recognize; one could only presume the vicarious effects of Plant’s ordeal had served to turn Led Zeppelin inside out. More than making statements, their music was asking questions, to such an extent that most of the songs sounded as if they were ended on the interrogative (as opposed to carelessly open ended).

There was absolutely nothing to deny their purposefulness – no smugness, no sloppiness, and no more holding back. Just an apparent all-out effort on the part of each man to make Led Zeppelin the best and most significant rock band in the world. (MM/ P. Dewing | April 1977)

Robert Plant's opening comment to the sweltering crowd: "Welcome to the sauna".

Press Review: St Louis: “we aren’t going to mess around – we’re just going to play,” a serious Robert Plant promised the capacity house who’d gathered in the 20,000 seat arena to witness the phoenix-like return of Led Zeppelin to the stage from what Plant euphemized as their “physical interlude” – the forced hiatus that resulted from the critical injuries he suffered in an auto accident during the summer of 1975.

It was obvious from his comment, made two songs into the programme, that Zeppelin weren’t interested in tea and sympathy, but rather in defending their supergroup status which, as they well knew, was sorely in need of it in St Louis after their sorry past performances in this city.

Indeed, while they had been, as usual, nearly an hour late in starting, the openers, The Song Remains the Same and a tough, angry version of Sick Again, had offered considerable proof that they meant to keep their lead singer’s word. And as if to further confirm it, there already a broken string hanging down from Jimmy Page’s tortured double-neck.

But it was not until they were successfully done with the metallic blues of their next song, Nobody’s Fault But Mine, that Plant himself (whose stint on harmonica had been Fault’s special treat) seemed fully satisfied they would live up to his commitment.

“It looks like it’s going to be a good one, he righty, if cautiously surmised, and they quickly moved ahead to In My Time of Dying – It’s challenging breaks, and Page’s bottleneck leads and Plant’s woeful wails all most impressively executed. But should there happen to have been any yet-remaining doubts in anyone’s mind as to Zeppelin’s fitness, the soul wrenching dealt by Since I’ve Been Loving You could not help but have dispelled them completely.

Plant’s purgative, bleeding cries – so reminiscent of Janis Joplin – and the taunting, almost brutal exchange between his voice and the instruments brought the concert to its first of several climaxes. That there had been a deep-down change in this group was now impossible not to recognize; one could only presume the vicarious effects of Plant’s ordeal had served to turn Led Zeppelin inside out. More than making statements, their music was asking questions, to such an extent that most of the songs sounded as if they were ended on the interrogative (as opposed to carelessly open ended).

There was absolutely nothing to deny their purposefulness – no smugness, no sloppiness, and no more holding back. Just an apparent all-out effort on the part of each man to make Led Zeppelin the best and most significant rock band in the world. (MM/ P. Dewing | April 1977)

Comments

I wish I could remember more but back then people passed around and shared their pot at concerts and I sat by some people with some good weed. Led Zeppelin was always and still is my favorite band and I enjoyed and cherished this concert but I didn't even know what happened at the end. I thought I heard that one of the band fell off the stage or got hurt. Ahhh to be 20 years old again.

I was at this show and remember much of it. Jimmy was extremely wasted, it is correct that they did no encore. I remember that they did not start the show until about 8:45 PM. I originally thought it was because everyone was outside trying to buy scalped tickets, but now I think they were trying to sober Jimmy up. As they walked out on stage with only the footlights, I saw someone try and take a Heineken out of Jimmy's hand, he grabbed it and smashed it over the top of one of his Marshalls and then turned it up and guzzled it down! Then they opened up with The Song Remains the Same and he slid out across the stage on his knees and broke 3 strings on the opening chord.

Greetings! What a great website! I was at this awesome show as well. I am not sure about the reason, but it is true that Zeppelin did not play an encore at this show. So, the set list above is wrong, as they did not play Rock n Roll. The show ended with Stairway. We all cheered for a long time, but they never came out. Still, it was a great show. If I have time, I will do a review of the show from memory. However, that was a long time ago!

I was there. I was crammed in a car with 5 girls and one guy, we all scored some VERY gold pot. One of my biggest regrets because I do not remember much of the show. I recall the opening which was amazing, Bonham's drum solo which was brilliant (and I don't like drum solos) and Stairway, then endless booing due to no encore. How could I not remember In My Time of Dying/Kasmir/Achilles? the set list makes me sad...

I can't even explain what it was like to be there. There aren't words to describe it only those that were there and not drunk or stoned can remember or know what I mean.

There was no encore with good reason. At the very beginning of the show someone shot a bottle rocket out of the crowd and it hit Jimmy Page in the chest and as usual he was bare chested. He was so mad he left the stage and refused to play. Shortly after the rest of the band left the stage. The crowd was so upset that a riot almost ensued. He finally came back out and cussed into the crowd mostly directing his comments to whoever had shot the bottle rocket. I don't remember word for word exactly what he said but I remember he called them MF's and said he was there to entertain and the crowd didn't deserve to hear him play if thats how they were going to treat the band after coming all the way there to do a concert & he wasn't going to play for them. It took awhile for him to calm down after walking off the stage again a couple of times but, they finally played. Security took away whoever shot the bottle rocket out of the crowd.

It was a great concert, one I won't forget. If Jimmy was wasted as other comments say it sure didn't effect his ability to play that night. The only thing that didn't happen was an encore because the band didn't feel like the crowd deserved one after the rocky start of the concert.

I feel lucky that they even played for the crowd with what happened. If they wouldn't have played though someone or lots of someones may have been hurt or worse even died as the crowd was getting out of control. I don't think there would have been enough security to keep them all calm if they wouldn't have come back on stage to do the show. This is also why the concert started later than scheduled.

Our seats were in the middle lower section of the auditorium. We were definitely seated before any of the band took the stage & able to see what happened first hand. We loved the band and felt that no encore was the price we all paid due to one stupid & obviously stoned concert goer that didn't have a clue and didn't get to see the concert at all. I just hope they got the right guy as it was kind of a crazy situation at the time. All Led Zeppelin wanted was a little respect in return for a great concert. They did everyone a favor by coming back out and doing the show in order to keep people from getting hurt & or effecting the future of rock concerts around the country.

I still hear the songs on the radio and it takes me back many years. To see & hear them play can't be explained by words. Unless you have seen them in concert you can't begin to know what their songs really sound like when they play them on the radio.

I saw the St Louis show April 15th 1977. It was great! I heard later that someone threw something (a frisbee maybe?) and hit Robert in the head with it, prompting the decision not to do an encore which would have been Rock and Roll as is mentioned here on the setlist. The show I saw I will forever remember, and I was all the way in the back and could still feel Bonzo's drums in my chest.

Two of my buddies and I attended SIU Univ. in Carbondale, Ill. WE HAD to see Led even if we had mo real money and no tickets...We drove 2-3 hours and arrived walking around the front looking for tickets anywhere....We were willing to split-up if needed...It was 5 minutes before the show and a guy came up to us and ask if we were interested in some great seats!! We explained we had little money. He said no problem and sold them to us for 15.00 apeice! WE walked into the place and everyone was seated....THEY ushers walked us up..up..up..to the CENTER 2nd ROW MIDDLE!!!!!! I only had one person in front of me...It was magicical...I don't have any idea who the person was...hahah..

Yep ... I was there at the ripe old age of 17 to see my guitar hero, JP. Some things i remember:
Robert Plant asked several times to, "...stop shooting those 'popping things' please!" (fireworks). I don't remember any bottle rockets but some jerk was dropping firecrackers from the nose bleeds.
Very unfortunately ... the acoustics of the building and the sound were horrible. But hey ... it was LZ! ; ) The light show was decent.
'No Quarter' was a definite highlight ... along with JB's drum solo. I loved the acoustic set, too.
These days ... my kids and their friends are listening to the Zep. I still love listening to them, too .. and my classic rock band does a pretty good 'Misty Mountain Hop'-- and believe me, it's tough to get that feel right. Peace to all - ; )

Page was not bare-chested, he was wearing a blue or white satin outfit with dragons on it.

And your story of the bottle rocket, the band leaving the stage, and "near riot" is absolutely absurd. Nothing of the like happened. Though I did hear of an egg, or some ojbect being thrown at some point.

Well, I remember a story my father told me about this show. I heard that they did not do Rock n' Roll or any other encores because........
Robert Plant was singing on stage, and someone threw a Jack Daniels bottle, and it hit him. Although that could have been a later show. I think it might have been this one. I also remember my dad saying that the person did that during the last song. (Witch was Stairway.)

I was at this show also and you are right there was no encore. I may need some help on this but I seem to remember the air conditioner was not working and it was hot as hell in the 'Old Barn'. I'm thinking that's why there was no encore.

I was there and had no drink or smoke and remember it clearly. No encore and Jimmy acting quite drunk at first..I saw the broken strings and thought..oh no...... saw several StL LZ shows and that year after the bicentennial all the fireworks I HATED and felt bad for all the bands especially the GREATEST, LZ. I got two Alembic basses seeing JPJ had switched. I have a handwritten review in a box I will dig out and type up here.

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